There may be concern with customer confidential data using these methods - but the primary purpose (or at least the one I'm after) is to restore a working and customized z/VM system. While you could probably use the results of all this to backup/restore other things -- I wouldn't think that would normally be done thru the HMC... we're talking 'install' and 'DR' here - not backup/archival solutions for data. (at least I'm not) But again - the security policy is up to the customer and shouldn't really be a consideration for the requirement.
Coming from exposure to a plethora of Linux 'live CD' distros and others that are USB stick only.. and things like Knoppix and SystemRescue -- the concept of having a bootable, full functioning OS from DVD/USB - with the ability to use utilities to backup/restore partitions, etc -- I'm spoiled. I want that same ability on the mainframe. Give me a rescue system on conventional devices (dvd/usb) that everyone has -- now I can walk up to a tapeless z10 and restore a working and configured z/VM system from my other site without special equipment. <drool> Scott On Fri, Jun 19, 2009 at 11:29 AM, Mike Walter <[email protected]>wrote: > Having read multiple media reports of companies losing tapes containing > confidential information, are you sure you just want to put your DASD > backups on a physically-tiny thumb drive? I lost my first 16G thumb drive > within months even though I was pretty careful with it (having paid out of > pocket for it a year ago). > > Most people don't have 3480, 3490, or 3590 tape drives sitting around to > read company data. Most people _do_ have PC's with USB ports, even though > trying to figure out whatever format a 3390 dump might be in would be > quite a challenge. But it would still be a matter of getting your > security officer to sign off on something s/he doesn't really understand. > > If you still think it's a good idea (and it *does* have merit), "do you > want encryption with that order"? :-) > > Any other considerations to discuss before making recommendations to IBM? > > Mike Walter > Hewitt Associates > Any opinions expressed herein are mine alone and do not necessarily > represent the opinions or policies of Hewitt Associates. > > > > > "Michael Coffin" <[email protected]> > > Sent by: "The IBM z/VM Operating System" <[email protected]> > 06/19/2009 11:49 AM > Please respond to > "The IBM z/VM Operating System" <[email protected]> > > > > To > [email protected] > cc > > Subject > Re: Using DVD to restore an existing z/VM? > > > > > > > I think what we really need is the ability of the HMC to use a USB as an > input device (e.g. be able to IPL a standalone program off of a USB > stick, and have a program like DDR use the USB stick as an input or > output device), and perhaps the ability of z/VM to read AND write to the > USB so that we can write iplable decks and DDR content there. > > If a vendor (IBM or otherwise) wants to further exploit that capability > with products that make it easier, so much the better. But the "basic" > ability to do I/O to the device via the HMC and OS are what I'd be > looking for. > > -Mike > > -----Original Message----- > From: The IBM z/VM Operating System [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Alan Altmark > Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 10:56 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Using DVD to restore an existing z/VM? > > > On Friday, 06/19/2009 at 08:27 EDT, "McKown, John" > <[email protected]> wrote: > > > And, from what I've seen, IBM does not like to give some things out to > > customers because it "freezes" what IBM can do in the future. Backward > > > compatability is wonderful for customers and a royal pain for vendors > as > it can > > impact innovation. I wonder when/if Linux will ever suffer from the > "can't > > change that, the customers would revolt" syndrome. > > That's true, but it goes even deeper. Backup/Restore is "vendor space," > > including IBM's own offerings. We can't do things in the base product > or > give away things that would negatively affect the value of such > software. > But that's all stuff that gets sorted out when the actual requirement is > > analyzed by product planners and we understand what technology is needed > > and how it is best delivered. > > Alan Altmark > z/VM Development > IBM Endicott > > > > > > > The information contained in this e-mail and any accompanying documents may > contain information that is confidential or otherwise protected from > disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, or if > this message has been addressed to you in error, please immediately alert > the sender by reply e-mail and then delete this message, including any > attachments. Any dissemination, distribution or other use of the contents of > this message by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly > prohibited. All messages sent to and from this e-mail address may be > monitored as permitted by applicable law and regulations to ensure > compliance with our internal policies and to protect our business. E-mails > are not secure and cannot be guaranteed to be error free as they can be > intercepted, amended, lost or destroyed, or contain viruses. You are deemed > to have accepted these risks if you communicate with us by e-mail. >
